Virgil Tillman Denham

Virgil Tillman Denham

B- October 2 1894

Shumway, Navajo, Arizona

Married – 30 March 1918
St Johns, Apache, Arizona

D- February 28, 1984

Tempe, Maricopa, Arizona

Buried- March 3, 1984

Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona

Virgil Tillman Denham
1 year old

Franklin (Parrish) & Dicia Ann Denham Family 1895
Taken shortly after they moved to Shumway
L-R Walter, Virgil (Baby) Franklin, _Pearl (Standing)
Willard,  Dicia Ann, Emma

1914-1916
Northwestern States Mission

Married March 30 , 1918
Saint Johns, Arizona
This picture was taken at Boot Camp for WW1
Virgil was just off his mission and married

                                                              

 This excerpt came from the Life History of Ross B. Denham (Son of Willard and Lovina Denham) Grandson of Franklin and Dicia Ann Denham.... titled: 

We Always Went To Church

 The family always went to Church. They paid their tithing and did all they were asked to do. All of my life, of all the people I have admired and revered, it has been the General Authorities and Church leaders. In those days two General Authorities came together to visit our stake for stake conferences. At the time there were fewer stakes and they could visit four times a year. They usually arrived on Saturday to be with the people. On Sunday there would be two sessions of conference, morning and afternoon. I never had to be urged to attend conference, I wanted to be there. The General Authorities were from Salt Lake. They had traveled many places. They knew what was happening. I loved to look at them to observe what they were wearing. I noticed the style of their suits, the neatness of their shoes--whether they were soiled, polished or scuffed like mine. I noticed the kind of ties they wore, the length of the shirt collars or whether they wore vests or hats. I don't know how this happened, but when Presiding Bishop Slyvestor Q. Cannon came to conference in Snowflake, he came to visit my grandparents in their home in Shumway. I recall coming into the kitchen and seeing Bishop Cannon; a very tall, straight and dignified man. He was so tall he could not quite stand up in our kitchen. I remember my grandmother (Dicia Ann Denham) telling Bishop Cannon I was her grandson. She said to me, "I want you to be like him, tall and straight." For a very small country boy, that thrilled me to death. Another time I remember President Grant coming to Snowflake for conference. For a reason unknown to me he came to Shumway to a meeting in our little schoolhouse. The schoolhouse was also used for meetings for the Shumway Ward. The meeting was held in the early evening. At the conclusion of the meeting President Grant said he would shake the hand of all the children. There were about 20 children all scrubbed clean and wearing their best Sunday clothes for this occasion. Shaking President Grant's hand, looking up at his beard, his heavy, gold watch chain across the front of his vest, and hearing his voice, greatly impressed me. He told us a few stories about how he learned to write--which impressed me most; the he wrote his name on the blackboard: Heber J. Grant. His name remained on the blackboard for months. The teacher at school (Florence Denham) would carefully clean around it. President Grant became known for an adage he had practiced and he always repeated to young people when encouraging them to learn:

     This picture was taken about 1922-1925. It was titled Shumway Sunday School Class. Boy looking out the window is Horald Denham. Top Row: F. Parrish Denham, Verdie Neff, Walter Denham, Betty Denham, Lavina Denham, Florence Denham, Mary Welshon, & Dicia A Denham with the white hair.  Bottom Row:  Wilson A. Shumway, Wilson Glen Shumway, Lewis Neff, Ted Solaman, Willard Denham, Virgil Denham.

                               

History of Virgil Tillman Denham

October 2 1894--February 28, 1984

Written 1968 by son Melvin V. Denham for their 50 Wedding Anniversary

      Virgil Tilman Denham entered this mortal life on the Second day of October, 1894 as the fifth child and third son of Franklin Parrish and Dicia Ann Wood Denham.  He attended school in Taylor and Snowflake, riding horseback or walking as there were no school buses then.  As a young man, he carried the mail from Shumway to Silver Creek, riding there on horseback three times a week.  In 1914, while attending the Snowflake Academy he received his call to serve on a mission to the Northwestern States.  President Melvin J. Ballard was his mission president and I  (Melvin) was named after him.  

     Upon his return in 1910, his sister, Emma, who was living in St. Johns at the time, told him that she had the nicest girl in St. Johns picked out for him.  Having met Florence Isaacson, the next year or so, trips to St. Johns with loads of apples as an excuse, became more frequent.  It took a considerable amount of persuasion to convince Florence, but she resigned from her teaching position early and they were married on March 30, 1918.  The left the next day along with his brother, Willard, and his bride, Vina of the same day, and Albert and Elda Brown from St. Johns, and made the trip to Salt Lake City to be sealed in the Temple.  ( This trip was known as the Honeymoon Trip to Salt Lake City and had to be made by wagon. 

     On May 25, 1918, Virgil was inducted into the Army to serve in World War I.  He spent the summer at Camp Cody in Deming, New Mexico.  In September, he was sent to Camp Dix, New Jersey, where he along with many others fell victim to the flu epidemic.  Even though he had been tagged as one to be carried out to die, through the administration of the priesthood he soon recovered.  He sailed to France in 1918, his company was ordered to be the front.  With the signing of the Armistice on November 11, 1918, the war ended and Virgil spent some time helping to clean up and bury the dead and the dead bones.  It was during the march from the front lines that his feet and legs broke down on him due to the heavy packs they had to carry.  The result of this plagued him all his life.  

     He arrived home on July 17, 1919 to have the next few years be filled with sickness, operations, loss of two babies, hospital bills, doctor bills, and the closing of both the Holbrook and Snowflake banks.  

      Myna was born the day after his birthday in 1922.  She was premature and required a lot of special attention.  Melvin was born September 90, 1925, and was just six weeks old when Virgil came down with typhoid fever and required constant care.  The next few years seemed to bring more problems with no jobs being available and the full force of the depression years.  Florence taught school these years, however, and with this and apples, there were able to accomplish some of their dreams. 

     Marlowe was born August 2, 1928 and Melba July 28, 1930.  It was during these years they purchased the Neff farm and the farm in Snowflake, and the old Wilhelm home in Snowflake.  This last home was remodeled ( using apples mostly, to pay for it) and in October, 1914, we moved to Snowflake.  

     Chico (horse) was born that spring and along with Range, Toy, Tops, Brim, Hit, Bones, Jack and others our lives were made more pleasant.  Chico died last November (1968) at the age of 33.  In 1939, Virgil was appointed temporary Postmaster in Snowflake and the following year was appointed Postmaster with a salary of $1500.  During those years, Florence taught school part-time and then full-time in Snowflake, Shumway, Clay Springs, and Taylor.  She taught all grades and subjects for a total of 33 years , and finally retired from teaching in 1957.  She then went to work full-time in the Post Office, where she worked until she retired in 1961. 

      Virgil retired from the Post Office, June 30, and since that time he has spent his time as he says "being satisfied with conditions of life and watching the glories of the Lord".  In 1946 Melvin had return from the Army and he and Marlow attended the University of Arizona.  Myna had gone to school at Flagstaff and BYU, and was now married and had their first grandchild. In 1948, Marlowe left on his mission,  Melba started college at Tempe and Melvin got married. 

       In 1950, the ulcer which had plagued Florence for 8 years ruptured and she spent several weeks in the hospital requiring Virgil to sell his entire herd of cattle to pay for it rather than go into debt.  In 1952, Marlowe and Melba graduated from Arizona State.  Melba had married in August of 1951.  During the next few years Melvin and Marlowe finished their Master's Degrees; Myna graduated from ASU; Kitty graduated from BYU, and Wilson finished his Bachelor and Master's at ASU, and Marlowe and Wilson both went on to receive their Doctor's Degrees.  Marlowe finally married in 1961 to Dorothy Coleman who had graduated from Flagstaff University.  If you add all the years of college attended by the four children and their spouses, it totals over 45 years, which was quite an investment in time and money. 

     During these years, Virgil and Florence were both active in their church assignments.  Virgil was Bishop for 8 years, Sunday School Superintendent, Elders Quorum Presidencies, MIA Counselor, High Priest Secretary in both Ward and Stake, and home teacher.  Florence served in many capacities in MIA and Relief Society, both Ward and Stake, on the Stake Relief Society Board, Stake YWMIA president, and as a teacher trainer for many years. 

     Virgil and Florence Denham still maintain their home in Snowflake, they are enjoying good health, having recently celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary.  They have given their four children and 14 grandchildren a rich heritage and exemplary lives of dedicated service to their Father in Heaven and their fellowmen.  May we all follow their excellent example  (Written by Melvin V Denham). 

Memories Written by Florence Denham in 1969

     Virgil was called on his mission from the Taylor Ward with Bishop Norman A. Brimhall as Bishop of the Taylor Ward.  Shumway was just a branch of the Taylor Ward with Bishop Norman A. Brimhall the Bishop and Virgil's father Franklin Parrish Denham as the presiding elder over Shumway.  Virgil received his endowments on May 25, 1914.  He was to leave Salt Lake City, Utah for the North Western States Mission on June 3, 1914.  While Virgil Tilman Denham was on his mission, The Shumway Branch was made a Ward in 1915 with Wallace E. Shumway as the fir bishop.  His counselors were Charles L. Rhoton, first counselor, and Walter Hampton Denham second counselor.  Charles Rhoton moved to Lakeside and resigned so Alvin E. Rhoton was made a counselor. 

     Wallace E. Shumway was made bishop of the Shumway Ward in 1915.  He served four years until May 1919.  On May 8, 1919, Walter Hampton Denham was made bishop of the Shumway Ward.  His counselors were Wilson A. Shumway and Lorenzo Dow Rhoton St., with Willard Parish Denham was Ward Clerk.  Dicia Ann Denham as president of the Relief Society again , and Virgil Tillman Denham as Superintendent of the Sunday School. 

     Virgil was set apart as bishop by Apostle Richard R. Lyman. on May 8, 1927.   He served for almost eight years.  We had bought us a home in Snowflake so that we could put our children in school there.  We were remodeling the home in Snowflake, so we didn't move to Snowflake until October, 1, 1934.  We let Myna and Melvin ride the bus to Snowflake the month of September as were were anxious to get them in the school at Snowflake so they could have a teacher other than their mother.  We didn't start Marlowe in the first grade the first month, but waited until we moved on October 1,.  Myna was to be in the eight grade, Melvin in the fifth grade, and Melba was just four years old.  

                                                                  Dates on Virgil

Born:  October 2, 1894 in Shumway Arizona

Blessed:  by Wilson G. Shumway, November 1, 1894

Baptized : By Franklin Parish Denham (father) October 2. 1902

Confirmed : By Edwin D. Solomon, October 5, 1902

Ordained Deacon: By Littleton L. Perkins, February 3, 1907

Ordained Teacher: By Levi M. Shumway, August 6, 1911

Ordained Priest: By James M. Flake, March 15, 1914

Ordained Elder: By James J. Shumway, May 17, 1914

Married: to Florence I. Denham by Bishop David W. Rencher in St. Johns, March 30, 1918

Endowed in Salt Lake Temple before he went on his mission

Sealed to wife by Hyrum S. Smith, April 3, 1918 in Salt Lake Temple, Utah

Patriarchal Blessing by John Hatch

Ordained High Priest by Apostle Richard L. Lyman on May 8, 1927

Set apart as Bishop of Shumway Ward, May 8, 1927 by Richard R. Lyman

Mission to North Western States,  Left home May 25, 1914 and returned home July 7, 1916.  

In conclusion two observations: 

1.  The Denham's did live in in Shumway before the the 1900s.  While I was living up in Taylor Arizona ( early 2000s) I went into the museum and the Denham name was not on the wall for being one of the first families in Shumway.  I made a copy of the histories that I had complied about the Denham's in Shumway and gave book to Carmen Shumway.  Consequently the Denham name is now up on the wall .  I did this because I am very proud of my heritage and we should remember these ancestors for the hard work and devotion to our Father in Heaven. 

2.  My grandmother Florence Denham kept detail records (as shown above on her husband) and family. She did this way before the church stressed "Family Search" and the "Five Generation Sheets".  In the late 50s, the church came out with the program of discovering your ancestors.  I remember I was about ten years old and we went to Snowflake and my Mother (Priscilla Denham) and Florence Denham started pulling out records from her drawers in the living room.  In those days they recorded all the names on paper sheets that the church had designed.  The "Five Generation Sheets" were not hard to fill out because of my Grandmothers extensive records.  

Dianna Denham Hadlock 2019